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Saturday, April 29, 2017

Jack fruit season is here and varieties of jack fruits are available plenty in the market. I have tried this " Jackfruit Fry /Dry curry " and it tasted very nice. So thought of sharing the special recipe. This is my own simple creation I can say.

I have used jack fruits, red chilly and coconut oil.
Jack fruit is from my sister's home (Udupi) and they do have many varieties of jack fruits. They are sweet and thick and really nice to try many varieties.Lets see some benefits of eating " Jackfruits " in our diet.
As I said in earlier posts, it is always better to use seasonal fruits/ vegetables, which are loaded with healthy properties.
Jackfruit is known as the jack of all fruits. It is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fiber, fat and protein. It contain calories but no cholesterol or saturated fats. It is rich in vitamins and minerals. Jackfruit is loaded with antioxidant properties. Jackfruit contain Vitamin C and is good for our immune system. It protect against diseases like cough, cold and flu. It has potassium and good for bones and skin. Jackfruit is full of fiber content and is good for people who suffer from piles. It is a rich source of calcium and good for our bone health. Jackfruit is good for our eyes and skin. Jack fruit provides energy. It contain other minerals like copper and magnesium.
Let us see the recipe Now : As I said it is very simple and yummy dish and goes well with hot plain rice, chapati, dosa and all types of rotis.No Onion or Garlic is used in this " Jack Fruit Fry ".

5. Add salt and a pinch of turmeric powder. Mix it well.
6. Put off the gas and shift the ready jackfruit fry to a serving bowl. Add grated coconut and cut coriander leaves on the top.

7. Serve with any main dish you have prepared. We had it as one of the side dish during lunch.

Note :

Use of any cooking oil is optional. Use of green chilly instead of red chilly is optional. Do not use much spice. Do not use onion or garlic to fry. It may not taste good. No need to add jaggery since the jack fruit is already sweet. Adding more oil is optional. Strictly do not add any water. Cook on low flame.Time : 10 MinutesServes : 2 to 3

HelloEvery one....My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, traveling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Suvarna Gadde (Elephant Yam), is a root vegetable which grows under the ground. It is one of the healthy vegetable. Suvarna Gadde is used in varieties of curries. Here is one such traditional Udupi Special curry.

I have used Suvarna gaddde, coconut and little spices with tamarind.

Remember tamarind is a must in Suvarna gadde curries. One has to be very careful while removing the outer part which is very hard. Some get itchy feeling while cutting the vegetable too. The easy option is to apply any cooking oil or dip your hand in tamarind water. It helps you to cut the vegetable without much itch.

Let us see some benefits of eating Suvarna Gadde in our diet.

Suvarna Gadde (Elephant Yam) has loads of medicinal values and it is used to treat piles and dysentery, vomiting and abdominal pain in Ayurveda. It is a good blood purifier. The paste of Elephant yam is used to reduce the pain of arthritis. Elephant Yam helps to reduce the hypertension. The dried yam powder is used to treat for piles and dysentery. It helps to reduce the cholesterol levels in blood. It helps to maintain the hormonal balance and increase the estrogen level in women. It has antioxidant properties and contain Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin A. and minerals like Potassium, Phosphorous and Magnesium, zinc, calcium and copper.

Remember that Elephant Yam/Suvarna gadde has the cooling effect. It is better to avoid, People who are suffering from cold, sinus infection or asthma.

Lets see the recipe now:

Things Needed :

To Cook :

Suvarna Gadde/Elephant Yam : 1 Bowl (1/2 kg)

Tamarind Pulp : 1 Tablespoon

Salt : As required

Turmeric powder : A pinch

To Roast/fry :

Methi Seeds/Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon

Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon

Red chilly : 4 to 5

Curry leaves : 6 to 8

Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch

To Grind :

Roasted ingredients

Coconut : 1 Cup ( 4 to 5 Tablespoons).

To Add :

Mustard seasoning

Coconut oil : 1 Teaspoon

Coriander Leaves

Method :

1. Wash Elephant yam in running water and remove the mud which is stuck around it.

2. Now remove the outer layer nicely and cut the yam and put it in a big bowl of water.

3. Wash it nicely again and keep it aside.

4. Soak a gooseberry size tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp.

11. Let it boil nicely for 2 to 3 minutes. Shift the curry to a serving dish and add mustard seasoning.

12. Add a teaspoon of fresh coconut oil and serve with the main dish of your choice.

Note :

Adding onions or garlic to the curry is optional. Adding little jaggery is optional. ( I have not added)

Adding coconut oil is optional. ( You can use your choice of cooking oil or ghee). No dal is added here. Needs to add tamarind pulp and salt along with suvarna gadde pieces and cook. Use of pressure cooker is optional. See that it does not over cook. (2 to 3 whistles are enough).

HelloEvery one....My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, traveling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Mango fruit curry is one of the side dish. It is an easy and quick preparing yummy dish. Savoury mango fruits are used here and you will surely enjoy eating " Mango Fruit Curry " I am sure. This curry is one of the traditional curry done during Mango season. (Udupi/Karnataka).

My father in law's house is in Salekeri (a small village), near Brahmavar./ Karnataka/ India. There are a few trees which bare these wild mangoes. Now a days its very hard to get people who can climb and pluck the fruit or raw mangoes. The half ripe mangoes start falling to the ground. It is one type of crazy thing that you go and check the ground for fallen mango. (These thoughts are still lingering in my mind.
Mangoes are plenty in the market these days and you can see varieties of mangoes in the market, is all because its the mango season now, Back at home in Salekeri (a small village near Brahmavar near Udupi), there are some mango trees. The wild mango tree has many many mangoes turning into fruits. But in the process it drops down some mangoes which are half ripen or yet to ripe fruits.

When we went home this time I picked some of those mangoes.

These mangoes can be used for rasam, juice, mango payasa. (Rasayana). I have tried these mangoes with savoury curry.

This is an easy dish and you can enjoy eating many main dishes with this Mango fruit curry for chapatis, rice, dosa, idli so and so.

Lets see the recipe now:

Things Needed :

Wild Savoury Mangoes : 2 to 3

Green chilly : 1

Rasam/Sambar/Curry powder : 1 Tablespoon.
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon

Jaggery : 2 Tablespoons

Salt : As required

For seasoning :

Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Coconut oil : 1 Teaspoon

Jeera : 1/4 Teaspoon

Asafoetida : A pinch

Curry leaves : 6 to 8 leaves.

Add caption

Method :

1. Wash and clean the mangoes. Squeeze the mango pulp and put it in a big bowl.

Note :

If the mangoes are savoury add little more jaggery which helps to reduce the acidity. Adding more jaggery is purely optional. No need to add any water to it. Thick curry can remain for 2 to 3 days if kept in the fridge. Adding any spice other than rasam powder is optional. You can add garam masala (a pinch), sambar powder, Til/sesame seeds powder is optional. Use of more or less spice is optional.
Adding coconut oil is optional.Time : 15 MinutesServes : 2 to 3.

HelloEvery one....My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, traveling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Who does not like mangoes? It is always best to have fruits and veggeis during their season. They are full of vitamins and minerals. Mangoes are of different varieties and you get mangoes in all corners of India. Here is a simple recipe of Mango Milk Shake which is prepared with " Alphansa " one of the best variety mango.Watermelon helps you to keep your body cool when the temperature raises and the day turns as hot boiling water. The body needs to have the moisture because it gets dehydrated because of the hot temperature. Try to drink more water or fresh juice so that you can stay fit and healthy.

Mango is the fruits of kings. It is already pouring plenty in the market. Though it is said that this year mango yield is less still you see loads of mangoes every where. They have made a provision that each mango growing farmer can contact the public and supply mangoes to his needs. That way it is the best idea, where farmer or buyer will not be cheated unless the crook, greedy ones. Any ways all the best to both. The buyers and sellers.

These were the first mangoes entered our house. They were bought by our son Rishikanth in the Bangalore Market place where he had a photo sessions. He went early in the morning around 5 with his friend and shot some good pictures. They went around the market near by and took some pics also. In the mean while he has bought some mangoes( said to be Alphans- but I doubt 😈 ). It was sweet and we had to be happy with those mangoes. Since they were soft and good for milk shake or rasayana. (Rasayana we add fresh coconut milk). So I turned these mangoes in to mango milk shake and its simple and quick and you can drink it without guilt. Not that harm since you add milk and I have added little jaggery (organic). Children are always ready to have mango milk shake and is really good for every one. If you are diabetic then drink 1/4 of the glass at time.
Lets see the recipe Now:

Things Needed :

Method :

1. Wash and clean the mango and wipe it with a clean dry cloth.
2. Squeeze out the pulp. Put little water to a bowl and dip the outer layer and squeeze out the remaining juice part nicely.

3. Put the pulp and the watery pulp together. Blend it in a mixi jar. Add jaggery and give a churn.
4. Add milk and grind it for 1 to 2 minutes. Put it to a big bowl. Add a pinch of salt. Mix it well.

5. Pour it to the serving glass and serve.

Note :

Use the sweetest fruits for milk shake. Boil milk let it cool then use it for milk shake. Adding ice cube or cold water is optional. I have used jaggery. Use of sugar/honey is optional. Adding milk is not that good idea because it might not taste that good.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 3 Glasses.

Watermelon Drink :Method :

Remove the red fruit part and grind it nicely. (Strictly do not add any extra water, because watermelon is loaded with water).
Grind it in a mixi jar and sieve with a strainer so that broken seed skin can be removed easily.
Pour it to the serving glass. Adding sugar/jaggery/ honey is optional. I have not added any sweet to this " WaterMelon Juice".

HelloEvery one....My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, traveling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

There are varieties of preparations of Karchikai. The stuffing can be with, coconut, khoya (khova), paneer, semolina, dry fruits etc.

karchikai, a sweet dish is normally done during Ganesha festival, Deepavali and other festivals too.It is called in different names in different places.
Karchikai - Karnataka, ghughra - Gujarat, Karanji - Maharastra, Karachika - Tamilnadu, Nevri in Goa. It is also known as Gujias.
I have used chiroti rava ( thin variety of semolina) and copra (dry coconut), sugar, raisins and cardamom. One has to kneed the dough well to get good crispy karchikai. You can just put them on the kitchen slab and beat them with chapati roller slowly. So it helps the dough to be soft.
Lets see the recipe now:

Method :

4. Put dry ground ingredients to a pan. Keep the pan on the fire. Mix all the ingredients nicely.
5. Let it get bit thick. Put off the gas and add raisins, cashews and leave it for cooling.

6. Now take the dough and knead it well.
7. Divide them in to small portion.

8. Roll them as small chapati and place a tablespoon of coconut mix.

9. Fold and join the ends and close it well. (Press a little at the edge and give a desired shape).

10. Keep oil on the fire and heat. Fry Karchikai on low and medium flame on both sides.

11. Remove from the oil and put it on a kitchen tissue.

12. Put them in a airtight box once it is cooled. Serve crispy crunchy Karchikai.

Note :

The outer layer dough is prepared with chiroti rava. It has to be kneaded well. Place the dough on chapati rolling board and hit it slowly with the help of rolling pin. It helps the dough to be soft and you can roll the outer layer as thin as you like. You can add less/more sugar to the stuffing. (Optional). Adding dry fruits helps the Kachori to be tasty. Use of cooking soda is optional. ( I have not added). Adding maida is optional.Time : 30 Minutes25 to 30 Karchikai can be prepared.

HelloEvery one....My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, traveling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.